New start for committee on death penalty

What some had hoped would be a legislative hearing to propose reforms to the death penalty ended up Thursday as another airing of opinions by those who support and oppose capital punishment.

Rep. Joe Hackney, an Orange County Democrat and co-chairman of the House Select Committee on Capital Punishment, had planned to have the committee hear from the public then have lawmakers discuss proposals.

But his co-chairwoman, Rep. Beverly Earle, a Mecklenburg County Democrat, couldn't attend the meeting and the committee has lost several members after the election.

Instead, Hackney will have to wait until the as-yet-to-be-determined House speaker appoints new members. He hopes they will meet again before the legislative session starts Jan. 24.

On Thursday, legislators heard impassioned arguments for and against the death penalty from the twin brother of a murder victim and the mother of a death row inmate scheduled to be executed later this month.

"The punishment is not the problem," said Wayne Uber of Chapel Hill, who urged lawmakers to pass crime prevention measures. Uber's twin brother, Jeff, was murdered in 1995.

Shirley Burns of Hope Mills, the mother of death row inmate Marcus Robinson, said, "Let's not let another innocent soul suffer death -- only after his death to discover: 'Oops. We made a mistake.' "

Others asked lawmakers to consider legislation to prevent the severely mentally ill and those who had poor legal representation from getting death sentences.

Many death penalty opponents urged lawmakers to propose a two-year moratorium on executions while the capital punishment system is studied. But such a measure failed to get enough votes in the House two years ago, and Hackney said he doesn't think there is any more support now.

"I don't anticipate much change," he said.

Stephens a judge again

Linda Stephens, who lost a race for state Court of Appeals last fall, will return to the bench.

Gov. Mike Easley announced Thursday evening that he appointed Stephens to the Appeals Court to fill a vacancy created by Robin Hudson.

Hours earlier, Hudson was sworn in as a state Supreme Court justice.

Easley first appointed Stephens to the court a year ago. She lost a close race in November to Donna Stroud, a Wake District Court judge.

"Linda has done an excellent job on the Court of Appeals for the past year, and she should continue in that role," Easley said in a prepared statement. "Her integrity and experience are valuable assets to the state's judicial system."

If Stephens wants to keep the seat, she'll have to run again in 2008.

Measuring a treasurer

Rep. Bill Daughtridge, a Republican from Rocky Mount, is considering a run for state treasurer.

Daughtridge, who will start his third House term this month, said he has been talking to business leaders and political advisers about a possible campaign for treasurer.

Daughtridge, who is president of an oil and gas distribution company that also operates convenience stores, said he's interested in the treasurer's job because it matches his business and education background and his legislative interests in economic development and state fiscal policy.

Strengthening audits

Legislators are looking for advice on how to improve state agencies' internal audit operations.

The move by lawmakers to hire a consultant to come up with ideas for changes follows a 2006 report from State Auditor Les Merritt's office slamming internal auditing in state agencies as inadequate or nonexistent.

The consultant's report must include recommendations for more direct guidance of internal auditing from the legislature.

The legislative committee handling the internal audit project expects to hire a consultant Feb. 2 and get a final report May 8.